(Minghui.org) A 63-year-old retiree was tried on August 23 for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Ms. Yang Chunxiu’s two lawyers argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that the persecution has been illegal from the onset. They stated that their client should never have been prosecuted for exercising her constitutional right to freedom of belief.
Fifth Arrest
Ms. Yang was arrested on April 20 of this year. Prior to her latest arrest, she had been detained four times for holding firm to her faith in Falun Gong.
She was given a 30-day criminal detention and sent to Fengtai Detention Center.
The authorities refused to release her at the end of her detention term. Instead, they formally approved her arrest in late May and had her case forwarded to Fengtai Procuratorate on August 3 and then to Fengtai Court eight days later.
Procedural Violations, Physical Abuse
When the trial started on August 23, Ms. Yang’s two lawyers noted that their client was not issued a summons to appear in court as required by law.
Ms. Yang also testified how the arresting officers violated legal procedures and her human rights. She said, “The police broke into my home and confiscated my valuables without showing a search warrant or giving me a list of confiscated items.”
“They also hit me in the face as I protested the illegal arrest. My face became severely bruised. While in detention, the police kept me in a metal cage for a period of time.”
Ms. Yang also explained why she holds firm to her faith despite the persecution: “The most important thing for me is to maintain a healthy body. I was once plagued by numerous ailments, but Falun Gong returned me to health and enabled me to enjoy an illness-free life.”
“The practice also taught me to be a good person, and I harbor no ill intention at all. I just want to tell people the persecution is wrong, which caused no harm to anyone,” she continued.
Judge Hu adjourned the session without issuing a verdict and said that he would announce a new court date later.
